Mercedes introduced an upgrade package ahead of the Imola GP. The technical team and principal, Toto Wolff, were optimistic, hoping for a better result. However, the Silver Arrows’ woes continue, as their drivers failed to enter the top five. Moreover, the W15 remains uncertain on track, as its performance was yet again disappointing.
The Austrian outfit has been in a slump since 2022. The team has not won a race while grappling with technical issues. Moreover, the team looks far from being an ‘elite squad,’ keeping itself out of the championship quest. However, Toto Wolff and the team pitted George Russell during the Sunday race. While the move left every fan clueless, the team boss has come up with a solid reason.
‘We Are All Frustrated By Finishing P6-P7,’ Says Wolff
The duo of Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton was unstoppable in their first season together in 2013. They helped the team win consecutive world titles, and the dominance was unmatched. However, the team’s performance has taken a drastic drift for the past few years, leaving them with zero title wins in the last two seasons. Moreover, the seven-time world champion is far behind his competitors with 35 points in the first seven GPs. Thus, the headache for the three-pointed stars continues due to a streak of shaky performance. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished at P6 and P7 during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. While Hamilton and most of the racers opted for a ‘one-stop’ strategy, Russell was pitted for the second time. Thus, he ended up one place behind his teammate.
The move left spectators puzzled, as Russell could have potentially finished in a higher position. However, Wolff explained the strategy’s dynamics, demonstrating that it did not affect the outcome. The technical team was worried that Russell might miss out on finishing the race with his tires. Also, as Sergio Perez constantly struggled, Mercedes sensed an opportunity to get the extra point for the ‘fastest lap.’ However, the team was frustrated with the result, as they look forward to making more changes in the future. Wolff stated that the team has narrowed the gap with those ahead but emphasized that it will take more time to see significant results.
Lewis Hamilton Frustrated After Imola GP
After yet another disappointing finish, Lewis Hamilton was frustrated with consistent struggles. As Mercedes stands at fourth in Constructors’ points table, the team is well behind McLaren. Thus, the seven-time world champion voiced his disappointment after the Sunday race.
Hamilton feels the team is in ‘no man’s land’ and there was almost nothing for them to achieve during the Imola GP. However, he emphasized the importance of persistent hard work, noting that the team needs to improve their performance to turn the tide in their favor.
